Study Asks "Is Grantmaking Getting Smarter?"

A study released by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, Is Grantmaking Getting Smarter?, showed that grantmakers are making shifts on how they support their grantees. Among these shifts is the increasing support for general operating, multiyear, and capacity-building purposes. A median 25% of grant dollars now go to general operating support - up from 20% in 2008 and 2011. In addition, the percentage of foundations making multiyear grants more than doubled in three years, from 28% in 2011 to 58% in 2014.

But not all the measure are showing marked shifts. Ben Gose, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, writes: "...the study also found little progress in some other areas that nonprofit advocates have been pressing for, like providing financial support for collaboration among charities and openly sharing foundation research." Read more of The Chronicle's summary of the report.